The life of a mom in rural America striving to live a Christian life, be a help meet to my husband, homeschool 2 of my 4 children (7 and 10), manage a yarn/spinning shop on ETSY, and living very simply and frugally! Join us in our adventure! Visit my ETSY shop at www.etsy.com/shop/simplyhandspunyarn

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Just finished my first winter yarn, Hot Chocolate on a Snowy Day http://www.etsy.com/listing/82464489/hot-chocolate-on-a-snowy-day-handspun . It was great fun to do. This will make an awesome scarf. I may do it myself if it doesn't sell by the time I am finished with all my other projects! Still working on my Enterlac scarf. Hope to have that done in the next couple of weeks. Going to spin a new winter yarn, Winter Bliss, today.

My oldest daughter, Jessica, was up Sunday. She started 2 knitting projects while here! I'm going to create a super knitter yet! She is working on a Waterfall Scarf and a sweater. I can't wait to see them finished!

I read recently that the biggest budget buster for families is wasted food. How much food do you throw out every week, or in my case, every month. UCK. Stuff gets shoved back to the depths of the fridge and stays there until it liquifies. I am a huge food waster. So, this is something that is going to end now. I believe that wasting our food is a sin. Everytime I throw something out, I feel conviction. I ask the Lord to provide and He does, then I pitch it! Yikes! I'm so sorry, Lord! Help me to be a better steward of all the blessings you have given to me.

I was reading a favorite blog of mine - Raising Homemakers . She had lots of good info on preparing frugal meals. During the Depression Era, the US Food Administration came up with these guidelines which still apply, or should apply, today:

The US Food Administration advised about food:

1. Buy it with thought2. Cook it with care3. Serve just enough4. Save what will keep5. Eat what will spoil6. Home grown is best

Here are a few Depression Era recipes. These were in public pamphlets so are in the public domain.

Dice potatoes and cook slowly until very tender. Rub through strainer,
using potato and the 2 cups of water. Melt fat, add dry ingredients and
gradually add the liquids and onion juice. When ready to serve, sprinkle
parsley and cheese over top.

This is a favorite of ours. I add broccoli a lot of the time, along with lots of grated cheese added to the soup to make it cheesy and delicious! All of our family love this!

Melt fat until brown. Add flour and seasonings. Heat until brown. Add
milk gradually. When at boiling point add other ingredients. Place in
baking dish and bake 45 minutes.

Serve with fruit or a dessert and bread and butter.

We haven't tried this one, but it sounds good! This may just be dinner tonight!

Soups are always good for frugal meals. The challenge is preparing healthy meals in addition to being cost conscious. I will post some more of these recipes in later posts.

Now, I've got to get Ben going, We are going to spend the day at the park. One of the advantages of homeschooling is that you can have school anywhere! And what better incentive for doing good work and having good attitudes than the knowledge that a wonderful playground is in your future! So, today we will have "parkschool", a picnic, and get some spinning and knitting in also!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

A lot has happened since my last post. We had my sister's funeral, which went very well. Karen left a lot of people with a lot of good memories. Her smile was such a blessing to so many. She struggled with her RA with dignity and humor. She was close to the Lord and I know she is with Him now. I love you, Ka, and miss you terribly. I'll see you soon! (soon being a relative term - earthly time compared to eternity. I don't want anyone jumping to any conclusions).

Anyway, Gracie had her surgery. She did great! She sounds like Donald Duck, but the doctor assured me that would go away as the swelling goes down. So, far, 1 week, 1 day later, she still sounds like Donald Duck. As Karen would say, "greaaaat". lol Gracie is so precious. She went to church last night and was just raising her hands during praise and worship and praising her Lord. I thank God for such a blessing and the opportunity to be her mom. God has blessed me with 4 wonderful children. All successful and all pretty much well behaved - as far as I know anyway. Ignorance is bliss in a lot of areas!

I am back in my shop today! Had a very good day! Met lots of neat folks, Gracie actually sold some of her artwork to some very kind ladies from Carthage. I have finished spinning some Golden Retriever hair for a customer and started knitting it into a heart pillow today. It's going to be very pretty. Reminds me a lot of Angora hair. Has a beautiful halo to it.

Of course, my fun project of all time is the Enterlac scarf! I love knitting it! And people's reactions to it are so fun! I should finish it up within the next week or two. Can't decide whether to keep it, sell it, or gift it!

I received my "bling" to spin with my handspun! Stay tuned for some beautiful sparkly yarns!! I can't wait to get started!

I received a lot of Concord grapes in Tuesday. Luckily, my mom told me I could just stick them in the freezer until I am ready to deal with them. That was good news!! So, they went from the box, to the Ziplock to the freezer. Some are in the frige for munching. I love them! Also, canned 10 jars of peaches. Yummy! Added a bit of cinnamon to mine.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Getting back in the groove of homeschool after a couple of hetic weeks after the passing of my sister, Karen. Her service was Sunday and was absolutely beautiful, thanks in no small part to Rhonda Treaster and Pastor Warren. 2 hours before service, none of the videos or slide show would work. Pastor Warren to the rescue!! He's my hero!!!

I'm preparing to leave for Vanderbilt Children's hospital tomorrow morning for Gracie's surgery. I am preparing the special orders I have received and tying up loose ends. I'm taking my Joy wheel with me to make some new yarn for my shop and 3 knitting projects, perhaps 4. So, I will be keeping busy. Gracie and I will be by ourselves a lot of the time as Gene is going to be working and visiting along. I will be stuck in the hospital with nothing to do but spin, knit, read and play with my precious daughter! I am looking forward to it, I have to say. That is provided, of course, all goes well with Grace's surgery. I have no reason to think that it won't. God has her in His hand, that is for certain.

I sold my Mardi Gras Madness yarn over the weekend! That was the yarn from you know where that I spun with beads. Am I going to do that again??? Probably, but not now. It was pretty, when all was said and done.

My sweet inlaws are going to be here taking care of Ben while I am gone and will be holding down Simply Homespun! So, come on out and visit. Sorghum season is in full swing in Muddy Pond - lots to do in addition to visiting our shop.